Information du profil
Évaluation d'hôte
100 %
Last replied
6 mai 2026
Taux de réponse
100.0 %
Répond généralement ≤ 1 jour
Feedback
22
ID verified
E-mail vérifié
Badges (4)
Séjour min. souhaité : Au moins deux semaines
Infos
Description
We are Michael and Rachel, and we're excited to invite you to experience life on our small, private acreage nestled in the woods of Vancouver Island. We acknowledge our fortune to live and work on the traditional and unceded territory of the Quw'utsun (Cowichan) people. Michael has a background in social services and is a silversmith creating handcrafted jewellery from rocks and minerals he collects around the Island. Rachel works in healthcare and is a certified mindfulness group facilitator. Our family also includes our highly trained and adventurous German Shepherd/Roughcoat Collie, Eli, and Brio, a pet rabbit we rescued after it was abandoned by the forest near our property. We enjoy winding down in the evenings with a walk on the nearby trails, the occasional board game, and relaxing in our outdoor hot tub.
At our homestead in the Cowichan Valley, we are on a journey towards more sustainable living. While we are not homesteading experts, we are committed to growing in this area. Our dream is an ongoing project of developing a thriving garden, where we experiment with organic practices and permaculture principles. We are also refining our drip irrigation system and learning how to optimize our water usage. We look forward to meeting Workawayers who are interested in joining us to cultivate a more sustainable way of living.
Types d'aide et opportunités d'apprendre
Projets artistiques
Jardinage
Bricolage et construction
Aide dans une ferme
Cuisine/repas pour la famille
Aide à la maison
Entretien général
Centres d’intérêt
Végétarien ou végan
Technologie
Dev. durable
Animaux de compagnie
Culture
Dev. personnel
Ferme
Bénévolat
Astronomie
Soin des plantes
Art et design
Bricolage / artisanat
Photographie
Jardinage
Arts du spectacle
Dessin et peinture
Animaux
Plage
Fitness
Yoga / bien-être
Nature
Camping
Montagne
Activités en plein air
Randonnée
Cyclisme
Echange culturel et opportunités d'apprendre
We love Living on Vancouver Island because it offers so many diverse outdoor activities. Here, you can engage in foraging for local plants and mushrooms, especially during the spring and fall seasons. Duncan, the nearest town, hosts one of the largest farmers' markets on the island.
As active members of the local arts council, we are very involved in the vibrant arts scene of the Cowichan Valley. There are frequent opportunities to attend workshops, visit galleries, and participate in community events. The valley’s lively festival circuit features everything from workshops led by Indigenous elders and knowledge keepers to contemporary music and food festivals.
Aide
*** Note for winter months: There may not be as much to do in the garden during winter months, but we may consider having someone to help with carpentry projects, art studio organization, general help around the house, and cooking. ***
Gardening and Permaculture: Assistance with maintaining and expanding our garden. This includes working on hugelkultur mounds, managing raised beds, and helping to maintain a drip irrigation system.
General Yard Maintenance: Regular maintenance tasks such as weeding, pruning, composting, and general landscaping to improve and maintain the health of our garden and property.
Carpentry: We have various ongoing projects around the property. This year we are considering building a fenced-in area for our dog, and there are always smaller builds and repairs to tackle. Greenhouse: We are currently building and setting up our greenhouse and could use a hand getting it established.
Art and Craft Projects: Michael is creating an art studio where he works with locally sourced Vancouver Island stones — cutting and polishing them on lapidary equipment. There may be opportunities to learn about or assist with aspects of this process, along with helping organize the studio space.
Household Assistance: Help around the house including vacuuming, assisting with meal preparation, and possibly batch cooking for the week.
We hope for someone who is Open minded with strong communication abilities and empathy. Adaptability and respect for others’ space and boundaries will help ensure a positive experience for everyone involved.
Work Schedule: 5 hours of help per day, Monday through Friday, with flexibility in scheduling to allow personal time for exploring and relaxation.
Langues parlées
Anglais: Courant
Français: Intermédiaire
Hébergement
Workawayers will be accommodated in a private room on the second floor of our spacious home.The room is well-furnished with a comfortable bed and a large windows that offer views of the surrounding forest. There is a full bathroom near the bedroom. We have a home gym you could use provided you contribute to its upkeep and cleaning. You can also enjoy our outdoor hot tub when we have it running.
Regarding meals, Workawayers are expected to participate in the preparation of meals. While breakfast and lunch will be self-served, dinner preparation is a shared responsibility. We will provide the essential groceries and we appreciate input on the weekly shopping list. Our diet is primarily plant-based but we do occasionally eat meat.
We very rarely drink alcohol, however, we appreciate that enjoying an occasional drink can be part of experiencing the local culture, we ask that any alcohol consumption on our property be undertaken responsibly and with consideration for all household members. Please note that we do not permit smoking, vaping, or the use of cannabis on the premises.
Autres infos...
In your time off, there is much to explore in and around our homestead in the Cowichan Valley. You can take advantage of the local hiking trails through amazing old-growth forests, visit the nearby beaches for kayaking or simply relaxing by the ocean, and experience the vibrant arts scene at community galleries and workshops. Public transportation is accessible, with a bus stop within 20 minutes walk from the property, providing routes into Duncan, the closest town. For those who prefer cycling, if available we can provide bikes that can be used to explore the local area. We Value the fresh perspectives and cultural exchanges that each new guest brings. We live a mindful, environmentally conscious lifestyle and appreciate those who respect our home and the nature surrounding it.
Informations complémentaires
Accès Internet
Accès Internet limité
Nous avons des animaux
Nous sommes fumeurs
Familles bienvenues
Combien de volontaires pouvez-vous accueillir ?
Un
Mes animaux
Eli
Discutez avec des workawayers qui ont séjourné chez cet hôte
Feedback (11)
We loved how Levken was always up for adventure and good conversations! She was always respectful of our home and she fit right in quickly. Levken is gentle and kind, the way that she… read more
Before I arrived on Vancouver Island I intended to stay for three weeks only at their workaway - but when I got there I quickly decided to change my mind and extend my stay! And oh I am so glad I got to do that! I learned an incredible amount through working… read more
Where do I even begin?! This was my very first Workaway experience and this family and property has set the bar high! I want to extend a heartfelt THANK YOU!! From the moment I met them I knew I was being guided into a great experience. Beginning with the drive up to their property—I could already feel my nervous system… read more
This was my very first Workaway experience, and I truly couldn’t have asked for anything better. My time with Rachel and Michael was deeply enriching, healing, and transformative. From the very beginning, they welcomed me with such authenticity and warmth that I immediately felt… read more
Photos
Discutez avec des workawayers qui ont séjourné chez cet hôte
Feedback
Ce sont des évaluations supplémentaires en option lorsque les membres laissent un feedback. La note moyenne pour chaque option est affichée.
Exactitude du profil:
(5.0)
Échange culturel:
(5.0)
Communication:
(5.0)
We loved how Levken was always up for adventure and good conversations! She was always respectful of our home and she fit right in quickly. Levken is gentle and kind, the way that she… read more
Before I arrived on Vancouver Island I intended to stay for three weeks only at their workaway - but when I got there I quickly decided to change my mind and extend my stay! And oh I am so glad I got to do that! I learned an incredible amount through working… read more
Where do I even begin?! This was my very first Workaway experience and this family and property has set the bar high! I want to extend a heartfelt THANK YOU!! From the moment I met them I knew I was being guided into a great experience. Beginning with the drive up to their property—I could already feel my nervous system… read more
This was my very first Workaway experience, and I truly couldn’t have asked for anything better. My time with Rachel and Michael was deeply enriching, healing, and transformative. From the very beginning, they welcomed me with such authenticity and warmth that I immediately felt… read more
Veronika was a very quick learner, and was able to complete any task that was given to her. She was so helpful… read more
Both of them are wonderful people – incredibly kind, funny, welcoming, understanding, honest and patient. They did everything they could to make me feel at home, and I truly felt like part of the family for the whole month.
We had so much fun together. We went on… read more
They were also genuinely interested in Korean culture and taught me a lot about Canada. I could have many conversations and it was fun.
And I deeply appreciate that they asked me about my special needs first and met my conditions, which made me feel comfortable.
The fact that they… read more
Everyone knows that it is not easy to get out of your comfort zone, to leave your bearings and to live new experiences without knowing where life will take you.
I am more than grateful for the experience I had with you for almost two months. You are truly my second family and I thank you for everything you brought me and… read more
We had the absolute privilege of hosting Julie for almost two months, and during that time, we became fast friends. Julie was an outstanding Workawayer—incredibly organized, diligent, and always eager to learn new things. She tackled every… read more
With my knee injury, Ruby's extra help around the house was invaluable—especially her… read more
Your kindness, understanding, and welcoming nature made every… read more
